Weather wins again

Ellon and Garioch were denied games at the weekend in their respective battles against relegation in Caley 2 North.

In Ellon’s case their home fixture against Deeside fell victim to the weather, while Garioch were unable to press their case for promotion away to Aberdeen Wanderers.

The Meadows and Hazlehead were both deemed unplayable, leaving their supporters to kick their heels on yet another blank weekend for the game of rugby.

But with the weather scheduled to improve it is hoped Garioch will be able to play a rearranged game at home to Lochaber on Saturday, which gives them the opportunity to leapfrog Ross Sutherland in the division and close the gap on leaders Deeside, neither of whom are in league action.

Ellon will be without a game, as it is the weekend of the Caley knock-out competitions.

Ellon’s situation has become critical at the foot of Caley 2 North, having not played a game since December 19 when they were crushed 74-0 by Aberdeen Wanderers, and they must now wait until February 20 to play their next game away to Stornoway.

The Meadows club have seven games in which to save their season, including matches against fellow strugglers Shetland and Lochaber, though both games are in Ellon.

Ellon’s place in the league will be in jeopardy should they fail to win these two vital games, having played three more games than the club above them which just happens to be Shetland. Grim times for a club that once used to grace the premierships in the Scottish game.

But if it is gloom and doom at the Meadows, the same is the case at Rubislaw where the area’s top team Aberdeen Grammar are in serious trouble in National League 1 after losing out to Peebles last Saturday, slumping into the relegation area as a consequence of the defeat.

All in all the game in the North-east is not in a good place, especially after Aberdeenshire lost ground in their promotion drive at Ardrossan, losing 37-24 to the middle of the National League 2 side.

It left Deeside as the area’s only achievers at the top of Caley 2 North, while contesting the final of the Regional Bowl on Saturday when they meet Aberdeen Univiversity at Kings College. Kick off is 1.30.